How long does Washington ESD unemployment benefits last - confused about duration

Thanks! Where do I find this monetary determination letter? I don't remember getting one but maybe I missed it.

It should be in your eServices account on the Washington ESD website. Look under 'correspondence' or 'letters' section.

So the benefit year is different from the 26 weeks? That's confusing. What happens after the benefit year ends?

Right, the benefit year is just the timeframe where your claim is valid. After it ends, you'd need to file a new claim if you're still unemployed, but you'd need new qualifying wages.

This is true. I only qualified for 18 weeks because my earnings weren't high enough for the full 26 weeks.

How do they calculate it exactly? I'm worried I won't get the full 26 weeks now.

Wait, so even if I don't get paid that week because I earned too much, it still counts against my 26 weeks?

yep thats the frustrating part. learned that the hard way when i was doing gig work

I got my monetary determination but it just shows dollar amounts. Where does it say the number of weeks?

Look for 'Maximum Benefit Amount' and divide that by your weekly benefit amount. That tells you your maximum weeks available.

Is that legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status.

Yeah it worked for me. They basically help you get through the phone queue so you can talk to a real person at Washington ESD.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

This is crucial info. I keep seeing people ask about extensions that don't exist anymore.

Good to know, thanks. So basically I need to find work within those 26 weeks or I'm on my own.

If you work long enough to earn sufficient wages, you can file a new claim. Otherwise you'd continue your existing claim with whatever weeks remained.

what's 'long enough' though? like how many weeks of work?

Generally you need to earn at least 7 times your weekly benefit amount after your claim started to be eligible for a new claim.

Tell me about it. I had a disqualification that got overturned but it ate up 3 weeks of my benefits while they figured it out.

Disqualifications can reduce your weeks? I thought they just delayed payments.

If you keep filing during the disqualification, those weeks count against your total even if you don't get paid.

What's standby? Is that different from regular unemployment?

Standby is when your employer temporarily lays you off but expects to call you back within a specific timeframe. Different job search requirements and duration rules.

The pandemic extensions like PEUC ended in 2021. It's back to the standard maximum of 26 weeks for regular unemployment insurance.

Man I miss those extensions. Really helped during the worst of it.

What exactly counts as job searching? Do I need to apply to a certain number of jobs each week?

You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log. This can include applications, networking, job fairs, etc.

They actually check this stuff? I thought it was just honor system.

Once your regular UI runs out, you might qualify for Extended Benefits (EB) if Washington's unemployment rate is high enough, but this isn't always available. Otherwise, you'd need to look into other programs like TANF or food assistance.

Have you looked into retraining programs? WorkSource has some options that might help you get new skills while you're still receiving benefits.

How much does Claimyr cost? Might be worth it if it saves time.

They don't charge a ton and it beats spending days trying to get through. Check their site for current rates.

Good advice. Is there a countdown somewhere in the online account?

Not really a countdown, but your payment history shows weeks used and your monetary determination shows total available.

You can potentially qualify if you quit for 'good cause' like harassment. You'll need to document everything and may have to go through an adjudication process to prove your case.

How long does adjudication take? I really need these benefits to start soon.

Adjudication can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on how complex your case is and how backed up Washington ESD is.

This is smart. The transition from unemployment to other programs can take time to process.

I hadn't thought about that. Hopefully I'll find work before then but good to know.

8 weeks is way too long for initial processing. Something's definitely wrong with your claim. You need to talk to someone ASAP.

I had a similar issue and Claimyr really helped me get through. They handle all the calling frustration and get you connected to an actual person at Washington ESD. Worth checking out if you're stuck.

I think the last time they did state extensions was during the 2008 recession. Been a while.

Exactly. It's not something you can plan around, just a possible safety net in extreme circumstances.

The weeks start counting from your effective date, which is usually the Sunday of the week you filed your initial claim, not when you were approved.

So I've already used up 3 weeks even though I wasn't getting paid? That seems unfair.

If you're approved, you should get back-pay for those 3 weeks. The benefit year is 52 weeks total, during which you can collect up to 26 weeks of benefits.

Good to know, though I'm not planning to move. Does that mess up the job search requirements too?

Yes, you'd still need to meet Washington's job search requirements even if you're living elsewhere. It's doable but requires more documentation.

Thanks everyone. This thread has been super helpful. Sounds like I need to treat this as a 6-month job search timeline and not count on anything beyond that.

That's the right mindset. Use the time wisely and don't get comfortable with the payments.

How long would I need to work to qualify again?

Generally you need qualifying wages in at least two quarters of your base period, and total wages of at least $3,850 in your base period. It's not just about time worked but about earning enough.

Good to know! I almost made that same mistake. The system is so confusing.

Yeah the Washington ESD website doesn't make this very clear. I wish they had better instructions for first-time filers.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already strapped for cash.

They focus on just getting you connected rather than being expensive. Check their site for current info - claimyr.com has all the details.

I might try this. I've been calling for 2 weeks straight with no luck getting through.

They'll automatically stop when you've exhausted your benefit amount or reached 26 weeks, whichever comes first. You don't need to formally end them, but you should report when you find work.

Make sure to report any work immediately even if it's just part-time or temporary. They take unreported work very seriously.

Not necessarily. You get your weekly benefit amount times the number of weeks you're eligible for, up to the maximum benefit amount shown. If your weekly amount times 26 weeks is less than $8,500, you'll get the lesser amount.

This is so confusing. Why can't they just say 'you get X amount per week for Y weeks'?

I agree the whole system is needlessly complicated. The calculations are based on your work history but they don't explain it clearly.

Extended Benefits (EB) can kick in when the state unemployment rate is high enough, but it's not guaranteed and depends on economic conditions. The pandemic-era extensions are over.

I don't think Washington has triggered EB recently. The unemployment rate would need to be significantly higher than normal.

Best to plan for just the 26 weeks and not count on any extensions being available.

I'm always skeptical of these third-party services but if multiple people are recommending it...

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They don't do anything shady, just help you get through to talk to real Washington ESD staff.